Sodini's

 

4

35

Donni G.

Fernley, NV

sodini's is getting pretty rave reviews from others, but I can only go on my own experience. I went here a while back for a karaoke contest. my friend made the finals so we went back, the person who won was not nearly as good as the guy who did his best risky business Tom Cruise impression while singing old time rock and roll. I am convinced that the contest was fixed and for that reason sodini's does not get my business....too bad really.

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0

8

Nathalie A.

Mountain View, CA

If you're in the mood for a dive bar, this is the one you want to go to: very mellow, very relaxed, and an excellent house brew.  I'm not really put off by dive bars, but I can't imagine anyone being made uncomfortable by the regs.  They drink, you drink, so what about it?

I was brought here on a first date and will most definitely use it as a first date destination in the future, as I think you can tell right away how comfortable a person is with themselves by how they handle themselves in a dive bar.  The only thing I didn't like was the karaoke, which tends to run a little loud.  If that's you're thing, though, go for it.  I just prefer a nice conversation and maybe a game of pool when I'm out, so it's a personal choice.  

Again, try the house brew.  Excellent.

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8

55

Crystal L.

Modesto, CA

Ahhhhhh son of a bitch why did it take me so long to come into this place. I have dropped my uncle off in the alley of this place so many times it's not even funny.

Anyhow.. My friend and I decided to head out to Redwood City for the 4th (my old hometown) and check things out. We watched the parade, tripped around, and got really fucking thirsty. Come to find out they were only serving Bud at the fair. YUCK.

We walked from Downtown to Sodini's and were greeted by a man who was hammered out of his mind. We found a spot at the bar at the end of the and never moved. The bar was full of old faithfuls dressed to the nines in their red, white, and blue.. all having a great time.

There was a great cast of characters that day.

*Crazy drunk guy - spent ALL his money on booze, can barely sit in the stool anymore and had more than one person say to him "now don't die on me"

* White trash woman with no bra on, a red, white, and blue hat with gigantic peace fingers on it, and a glitter tattoo of an eagle that covered her left arm.

*Crazy black man in the cowboy hat. 6'6 and about 100 pounds. Cut off jeans so short his pockets were hanging out. Never removed his sunglasses, listened to a cassette walkman, and insisted I dance with him.

Bill the bartender: Great guy but real shabby. It's been said that he lives in the bar. Missing his front teeth and grumbles. He told me to "watch out" every time I looked at him.

Old man in the red, white, and blue glitter suit and top hat. Complained that the blues was too loud and walked out playing a saxaphone, making his own exit music.

And the moderately attractive Mexican guy that spoke broken English. He "has one years in America" proceeded to hit on my friend and I, buy us shots of Patron, and tell us that he used to dance for money. Oooo and humped me while I danced with my friend.

The place also sheltered a couple normal people.. some of these people I actually knew from way back in the day. The cast of characters really made my day though. Along with the cheap drinks and let loose atmospehere.

I'll be back for sure.

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Elite '08

71

293

Eve K.

Sunnyvale, CA

We stopped here as the last stop of our caltrain pub crawl. From the looks outside I was worried it was gonna be scary but it was the best time we had all night! And for the record, we didn't have too much up until this point so I don't believe I was beer-goggling the place.

It is a dive bar but it wasn't scary: the people were great! :-) I'm not so into karaoke but it was so almost just hanging out a friends house laid back fun. There were a few regulars there that believe me could sing but a lot was just people there having a good time. The crowd could have been rude to the beginners but everyone was super nice and friendly and supportive.

They had a great list with huge books by artist or song. Quite a variety of songs sung and the people who sang them so that was part of the fun. Even more surprising was the great music they played in between songs.

Fun was for sure had by all and I'd totally come back.

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Elite '08

15

124

Christine N.

CA

Sodini's Haiku

Yep, it's a dive bar
Cheap drinks, friendly bartenders
We were youngest there

26th birthday
75 cents a game
One old pool table

Good-natured people
Serious karaoke
They had a cowbell

a blow-up plastic
guitar and a crowd-pleasing
opera performance

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24

104

Kayt d.

San Mateo, CA

I like this place for the extensive karaoke list and local dive bar ambiance. ... But where do these "locals" come from? Does Sodini's bus them in? Call me cynical but they don't make folks like these anymore, not in the Bay Area-- and especially not on the Peninsula. Friendly, working class folks who sing a lot of country music and appear as though they couldn't afford a Bay Area mortgage (or rent) if their lives depended on it. Sodini's is like stepping back in time, to when Redwood City was seedy and interesting.

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1

49

NB B.

New York, NY

This is not a 4.5 star bar but I'll give it a solid 3 for being unique and divey.  Very local, as in the guys at the bar LIVE THERE local.  Karyoke is funny.  I saw this one fool playing a blow up air guitar while people sang.  He did this for like 10 songs I kid you not!  Drinks are reasonable and they have a pool table and dart machines.  Sun-Tuesday nights the funny bartender Pavo makes/brings free food, hotdogs and pastas, though on those nights, if you look around at the bar patrons, it looks more like he's running a homeless food program than an actual bar.

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1

5

Shannon R.

Redwood City, CA

Karaoke at Sodini's is the best around.  A good sound system, welcoming atmosphere, and friendly locals who leave out all sorts of fun musical instruments to play along with when someone is singing. "I need more Cowbell!

Great singers and over 20,000 songs to choose from.
Great prices on drinks and a welcoming bartender!

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21

81

isaias J.

San Francisco, CA

I've passed by this place at least one million times while trekking down the El Camino. Any who, an out of town friend was visiting and we wanted to grab a drink somewhere close to home (i.e. stumbling distance). I said aha, I know a little dive I've been wanting to check out....

The bar tender, Pavo, was awesome. He filled us in on the history of the bar. Apparently it's the oldest continuously operating bar in the bay area.  He said it's been around since about the 1900's. The bar moved around a few times, from Woodside Rd, to El Camino and after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 89 it moved down the street.

They have a good draft beer selection: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Fat Tire, Sodini's Ale (brewed by a local brewery). They also had some good bourbon: Woodford's Reserve, Makers and Gentleman Jack.

I've always hated Jack Daniels (high school hangovers...you know), but Pavo offered me a taste of Gentleman Jack and it was actually pretty tasty...on par with Marker's Mark.

Apparently they have Karaoke some nites. They also have one pool table,  table top shuffle board and DARTS! I love darts and they have two setups! I'll definitely be frequenting this dive...especially cause I can walk or stumble home.

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22

55

Jennifer M.

Redwood City, CA

The cleanest dive in town. I love this place and I have taken every out of towner and prissy friend I have there and they love it too.
Nice bar staff.. low-key karaoke on the weekends (and not too loud.. ' cause MAN do I hate it when the karaoke is too loud.)

Some of the bottles have been there awhile, so don't try anything fancy, but have a beer and make yourself at home on a bar stool. You are gonna be there awhile!

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7

11

Ayelet A.

Redwood City, CA

cheap beer, shuffleboard, pool table, friendly locals. like, LOCALS. one guy made me a paper crane and another guy gives out fortune cookies.

the "KJ" (dude, i still can't stop giggling when i say that out loud) is silly, and sings well but not overbearingly. he's fair with the song distribution, and generally you can get in a couple of songs if you're on top of things and there long enough, even on a saturday night.

the talent ranges, there are some great regulars, and the bartenders are sassy.

the only place, to date, that i have ever been, that serves pear flavored ketel one vodka (QUE?) the only reason i know that is because after requesting regular ketel one, that was what was offered.

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